PLACEMENT: Departmental
TITLE:
title
RAILROAD SAFETY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILROAD QUIET ZONE UPDATE
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
County staff will present an update on the Railroad Safety Capital Improvement Program and on the evaluation of establishing one or more Quiet Zones over the Florida East Coast right-of-way within Martin County. The presentation will review the risks, benefits, and requirements of Quiet Zones and how they apply within Martin County.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PREPARED BY: Name: Erik Ferguson, PE
Title: Traffic Engineering Administrator
REQUESTED BY: Board of County Commissioners
PRESET: 10:30 AM
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
Brightline Trains, LLC (formerly All Aboard Florida) began commercial operations on the Florida East Coast (FEC) rail line through the Treasure Coast in September 2023, adding approximately 32 daily trips through the FEC corridor. This change prompted community interest in establishing Quiet Zones with Martin County to minimize the noise impact from the increased rail traffic. In response to the public interest, Martin County leadership strategically decided to wait one year from the start of Brightline operations before analyzing the risks, benefits, and requirements of establishing one or more Quiet Zones over the FEC Right-of-Way (ROW). This decision allowed the impacts of the Brightline rail traffic through the County to be closely observed and assessed. With the passing of the 1-year anniversary of Brightline’s expansion of commercial operations through Martin County, County staff began this analysis.
At the March 11, 2025, Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, staff presented quiet zone options. The BOCC elected to not pursue quiet zones. Subsequently, the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Improvement Plan was adopted with the addition of a Railroad Safety activity.
At the May 19, 2026 BOCC meeting, staff were directed to bring back an agenda on quiet zones.
An update on the Railroad Safety Capital Improvement Program and the results of the quiet zone evaluation are being presented to the Board for policy direction on establishing one or more Quiet Zones over the FEC ROW within the County.
Options for consideration include:
• No Action
• County-Wide Quiet Zones (24-hour or nighttime)
• Partial Quiet Zones (24-hour or nighttime)
• Other Direction
ISSUES:
None
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law, has identified and addressed legal risks, and has developed strategies for legal defensibility.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
The Board is asked to provide policy direction on whether to establish one or more Quiet Zones at FEC grade crossings within the County.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
To be developed based on the policy direction provided by the Board.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☐ Chair Letter ☐Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☐Resolution
☐Other: